Sweet To Me, Like Sugar To My Heart

Cardigan: H&M; Jumper: Urban Outfitters; Tights, Ring, Necklace and Socks: Forever 21; Beanie: REI; Boots: Nine West; Photos by: DJ Lan

Candy - Mandy Moore

Two outfit posts in a row, can you believe it? You will laugh when I tell you that these photos were taken in a bathroom. It's okay, I don't blame you (I would laugh too). Last Monday, I accompanied my friend to karaoke bar in Menlo Park for a birthday. We took a break from all the singing we weren't doing (not my choice, by the way, because I happen to be a pro at karaoke) to snap some photos. The only reason this actually took place was because the walls coincidentally matched my beanie. Obviously, it was a sign that outfit documentation was meant to be. This was actually the first time I had ever worn this beanie, and I got it as a gift almost five years ago.  I don't know why I never put it on, because it is a real heat producer, and all I ever do is complain about how cold I am! I have been spending some time slowly cleaning out the contents of my room and closet, and, among the old One Tree Hill posters, 8th grade overalls (yes, I really wore overalls in the 8th grade), and high school cheerleading outfits, I have rediscovered many hidden treasures (e.g. my beanie!).  Don't you just love it when you find new old things in your closet? It's like finding $5 in the pocket of a pair of jeans you haven't worn in a while. I am confident that you will see a lot more of these little gems in some upcoming posts, so look out for that. Anyways, I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing holiday with your family and friends! Oh, and for the record, I LOVE karaoke (you can ask anyone that knew me in college, and they will tell you that on Thursday nights, I was often found first in line for karaoke at Brew Co.), and my song of choice is and always will be Candy by Mandy Moore. This is not a lie. 


PS: Mary of StyleFyles has graciously asked me to write a guest post for her blog. So, if you're in need of an extra serving of pancakeSTACKER in your life, head over to her blog and check out my food post which will be up later today! Thanks again, Mary! Annnd, don't forget: if you'd like to work with pancakeSTACKER, shoot me an email :) 

Happiness Hit Her Like a Train on a Track

Shirt: Gap; Coat and Pants: Nordstrom; Shoes: Urban Outfitters; Vest: Forever 21; Necklace: Old Navy; Photos by: DJ Lan

Dog Days Are Over - Florence + the Machine

I'll be the first to admit that I never saw myself moving back to the Bay Area after college. I was convinced that I would have my dream job in sunny Los Angeles, a cute little apartment to call my own, and my Tuesday nights would consist of Bikram Yoga in a peaceful studio on the Third Street Promenade. Alas, as you and I both know, my current situation is quite the opposite. I'm back in San Francisco, where I find myself, more often than not, freezing my poor little butt off, I do not have my own cute little apartment with photograph-filled walls, and, while I am fortunate enough to be employed, I wouldn't go as far to say that it is my dream job. Oh yeah, and my Tuesday nights currently consist of Miguel's 7:45 Zumba workout. The first month or so of being back, I was such a whiny little thing. I'm still surprised that my family was able to put up with my mopey self. But yesterday, something was different. I mean, it was a day just like any other. I woke up, ran some errands, enjoyed my day off from work, had a killer work out at the gym, and spent a good chunk of the afternoon cultivating my blog. But somewhere, in yesterday's full day of hustle and bustle, I felt an overall feeling of happiness that lasted throughout the entire day. Don't get me wrong, I've been generally happy for some time, but yesterday's happiness came from a different place. Maybe it was the endorphins from my workout, the chocolate I bought myself just because, or maybe my daily affirmations have finally embedded themselves so far into my psyche that I'm oozing with positivity. Well, whatever the case, best not to question it and just embrace these simple moments in life. As Florence and The Machine said, "The dog days are over. The dog days are done," and not a moment too soon. 

Marie Claire & Chambord Holiday Cocktail Party

A few weeks ago, I was invited by fellow Bay Area blogger, Carlina of the blog, Allergic to Vanilla, to a holiday cocktail party by Marie Claire Magazine and Chambord Vodka. As soon as I checked my work schedule and realized I was off, I quickly confirmed. It rarely happens that my hectic work schedule coordinates perfectly with any leisure activities. I was so excited to put on a cocktail dress, get dolled up, and make it out for a classy evening in the city. Once I arrived at the Hotel Vitale, where the event was held, I made sure to make the rounds and scope out all the sophisticated cocktail-wear. I do have to admit, however, that I spent most of the night mingling and enjoying a nice night off, rather than snapping photos and putting on my usual blogger badge. While I wasn't able to play photog all night long, I did manage to stop a few stylish ladies and gents for your viewing pleasure. My apologies for my lack of personal outfit pictures, but I'd like to point out the one picture I posted of me shows my naturally curly hair, for all those who have asked! Many thanks to Carlina for inviting me, and it was so wonderful to meet you and your sister!

Starting off the night with a tasty holiday cocktail*

Sittin' On The Dock of the Bay

It's been a while since I've done a blog post about food. Okay, rewind. It's actually been a while since I've done a post. My apologizes for my absence! With the holiday season upon us, I've been running around on empty and spending 90% of my time at work. In fact, I have been so tired, that twice this week, the action of momentarily closing my eyes really lead to an unexpected three to four hour nap. Imagine my dismay when I woke up at 2 in the morning and realized that 1) It's 2 in the morning and 2) I've slept through a Lifetime movie. Yes, I am serious about the Lifetime movie. (Fun fact: Lifetime happens to be one of my favorite channels, haha). Anyways, enough about my old lady status, and on to the good stuff. I know you are all dying to feel your tummies rumble, so for that reason I knew I had to make this one extra yummy. Enjoy!

Palomino  345 Spear St. 

PopSugar's FreshGuide, FabSugar, & Saks Fifth Avenue Present: "Girls' Night Out" (Part Two)

Hello my loves! I hope you all enjoyed all the photos from  part one of my "Girls' Night Out" post. As promised, here is part two. I trust that you will all enjoy these photos just as much as you did the first!

Black Bombshell: I'm an avid believer that one can never own too much black in his/her closet. This gal's black furry vest is something I'd love to have in my own collection.

PopSugar's FreshGuide, FabSugar, & Saks Fifth Avenue Present: "Girls' Night Out" (Part One)

After work a couple Wednesdays ago, I hopped on the train and arrived in San Francisco's Union Square. I met up with my friend and budding photographer, Danielle, and we made our way to Saks Fifth Avenue for a "Girls' Night Out" fashion and shopping event that featured free makeovers, a "sweet treats" candy bar section, mini cupcakes from SusieCakes, cute giveaways, and a colorful array of champagne cocktails (you might remember them from here). I filled up on pink strawberry belts and pink salt water taffies from the candy bar and enjoyed a few glasses of delicious cranberry champagne. Sadly, I did not treat myself to a much-needed massage, as I was too busy gawking over some stylish San Franciscans. Not one to be found without my camera, which is often found glued to my hip, I made sure to snap a few photos of some of the night's best dressed.

pancakeLEFTOVERS: November

I know what you are thinking...this is NOT my usual serving of pancakeLEFTOVERS.  If you are a follower of my blog, you know that I typically begin the start of a month with a series of my favorite outtakes from the previous month. So, you are probably perplexed as you stare at this post and see nothing but new pictures on your screen. The truth is, as I was trying to decide which leftover photos to include in my post, I was lacking a lot of inspiration. As I skimmed through my November posts, I realized that each one was already filled with photos that were uniquely and perfectly chosen to convey my feelings for that day. I didn't want to share a post with photos that just didn't do it for me, because if they don't do it for me, they surely won't do it for you. So, I hope you will all forgive me for my unconventional pancakeLEFTOVERS and enjoy this fresh stack I've cooked up for you.

Sweater, Dress, and Necklace: Forever 21; Boots: Chinese Laundry; Socks: Random; Photos of me by: DJ Lan

Nonetheless, I do want to take a moment to reflect back onto the month of November, so let's hop to it! After a series of events that forced me to get downright pensive about life, I pledged to take some time to work on myself and my happiness. Some of you might remember that this involved something I called "Natural November." For those of you who need a little reminder, Natural November was my way of shedding myself of the falsifications of life, so that I could truly embrace and appreciate everything around me. Overall, I am very happy with what I was able to accomplish in just 30 days. I joined a gym and found a new-found love for Zumba, after faltering twice in my attempts to shed myself of my beloved Chi hair straightener, I found the most amazing curly hair styling products ever created and haven't touched my Chi since, I shed myself of unnecessary negativity and cut myself loose of "dead weight," I kept myself busy by surrounding myself with people whom I absolutely enjoy working with and being around day to day, I worked harder to pursue my goals for the future, and now, everyday, I am one step closer to achieving what I know is waiting for me. In sum, November was a month that taught me never, ever, ever to settle for less than what I know I deserve.  So with that, here is a toast to an even dreamier December.


(Just a friendly reminder to ENTER my $55 giveaway, if you haven't already. Contest ends on Tuesday!)

pancakeFEATURES: IFB's Links à la Mode & MTV Style's Top Style Blogger Looks

Thank you, Independent Fashion Bloggers for picking pancakeSTACKER's post as one of your "20 best links" for the week of November 25th! What an honor to be featured!




Giving Thanks
Edited by: Holier than Now
It's Thanksgiving here in the U.S. and many of us are looking forward to the Black Friday sales - oh wait, I mean spending time with our families and friends! But it's wonderful (and kind of weird) that so many of the people that influence and support us on a daily basis won't be gathered around our table; they'll be hanging around our web address, retweeting our (sometimes) witty comments, liking our latest post on Facebook, etc. Whether or not you celebrate turkey day, as a blogger it's hard not to be full of gratitude for the resources we share on a regular basis. This week, Tickle Me Chic helps ban the blogging blues, Previously Owned does your holiday gift shopping for you, and Make the World a Prettier Place sums up the reason so many of us are grateful just to be alive (hello? fashion!) with a visual history.


Links à la Mode: November 25th

• Be Fabulous Daily Applying old-school academic standards of original content and citation of sources to fashion blogging
• Boheme Noir Best outfits 2010 of style icon Giovanna Battaglia
• Fashion Butter: How to DIY Fur Collar with Chains
• Fish Monkey's Writing Stuff Lanvin + H&M: Is there a downside?
• Frock and Roll A code of ethnics for advertorials on your blog
• Grit and Glamour RSS and Sharing for Dummies—and Lazies
• Haute Halifax Out of sight, out of mind? A look at the impact of the textile industry in Africa
• Holier than Now The Under $50 Gift Guide: Fashion, guy-friendly goods, eco and charitable finds and more
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: Are you addicted to blogging?
• Make the World a Prettier Place 30 Vogue covers from 1922 to 2005
• Mary Van Notes A vintage style post from a tree house
• Pancake Stacker Lessons from "Changing Fashion: Internet and Blogging" featuring Liz of Late Afternoon, Yvan Rodic of The Face Hunter, and more
• Positively Bleak Tips on staving off the winter blues - with a bonus compilation of free demos and EPs from alternative rock bands!
• Previously Owned A carefully selected gift list for the foodie, fashionable, beauty obsessed and generous
• The Chic Curve Winter coats for everyBODY. No matter what size or shape, there is a fabulous jacket just for you!
• The Coveted: Frock Luxury Vintage: A local NYC discovery
• The Fashion Pawn The Business of Blogging: Your Blog Brand
• The Lingerie Addict: 5 things Every Woman Should Know About Her Lingerie
• The New Professional A bloglover's tips for keeping up with your blog reading
• Tickle Me Chic: Get rid of those blogging blues: Tips and links to ban discouragement
• Wanderlost 10 things to look forward to this winter

SPONSOR:
Shopbop bags: Burch, Matt & Natt, Minkoff, IRO, Botkier, Gryson, LAMB, Chloe, BE&D, DVF



UPDATE: Two features in one day?? Thank you, MTV Style for including me as one of your "Top Style Blogger Looks of the Week!" Words cannot express how exciting this has all been! To check out what MTV said, head on over here, or to see which outfit post they're talking about, click here.

BARE-ing It All

Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a relaxing day before Thanksgiving! If not, get rested up, as it takes a well-prepared body and mind to take full advantage of all that feasting. As you might remember, a couple posts back, I promised to show you all some of the shots I was able to take at the Fashion and Internet forum held at UC Berkeley. Well, here they are! I spotted a lot of stylish students, and before everyone rushed back to hit the books, I made sure to stop a few and steal a few minutes of their time.

Structured shoulders, high-waist trousers with amazing button detail, a killer satchel, and a touch of color on her finger -- this CAL girl brought her best.

John Kim, BARE Magazine's Editor-in-Chief, stands out in his belted, army green jacket and quirky style.

Back in black: This trendy girl kept it simple with the all black ensemble, while letting her accessories speak for themselves. Can we talk about those shoes?

Originally from Arkansas, Michael, from The Art Institute of California - San Francisco, shows us that cutouts really are the next big thing. Michael let me know about his great upcoming event, so if you are in the SF Bay Area, make sure to check out the Arts of Fashion Foundation's symposium and fashion show happening this Dec 3-7! (Feel free to email me for questions)

 Wearing knit socks with black booties, a casual denim shirt dressed up by her fantastic overcoat, and a simple black skirt, this fabulous first-year embodies the perfect fall semester look.

Photos by: Chandamheer

So what do you all think? Who sported the best look and why? I know this post is a little short, but I assure you that I have some fun news and some more fantastic posts to share with you all soon, so I hope you will all be on the look out for them. And, before you leave, don't forget to enter my $55 giveaway, if you haven't already.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  And remember, tomorrow, just like every other day, is the perfect time to let everyone know just how much they mean to you, and how thankful you are to have them in your life!

pancakePRIZES: $55 CSN Stores Giveaway

Hello everyone! I hope your Monday has been going well so far, and if not, I hope to bring you something that will liven it up a bit. In the spirit of Thanksgiving (also known as MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY, EVER), I wanted to show you, my followers, just how thankful I am for your continued support of my blog. So why not start off the week with a giveaway??

As I mentioned before, I have been saving up some of my best goodies to share with you all! This time, I have partnered with the kind folks of CSN Stores to bring you a $55 giveaway!  In case you are unfamiliar with them, CSN Stores is comprised of over 200 online stores where you can purchase anything from handbags and luggage, to counter stools and for your new apartment! They've got just about everything you need, and they're only a click away.

HOW TO ENTER:
Entering is simple and easy! All you need to do is: (1) become a google follower of my blog and (2) comment on this post only with a direct link to the item(s) you'd buy with your $55 gift code from CSN's website. It's that easy! Don't forget to leave your email address, so I can contact you if you win!


BONUS ENTRIES: Leave a comment for each additional entry if you...

• Become a follower of my TWITTER 
• Become a follower on BLOGLOVIN'
• Subscribe to my RSS FEED
• Become a follower of CSN Stores on Twitter
• "Like" CSN Stores on Facebook
• Tweet about my giveaway with this message: "Have you entered @pancakeSTACKER's $55 @CSNStores giveaway? Enter here: http://pancakestacker.blogspot.com #pancakePRIZES" (3 entries max per day)
• Post about my giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. Please post the link to your post as well. 
• Add pancakeSTACKER to your Blogroll.  Please post the link to your blog as well. 
• Tell me what YOU are thankful for this Thanksgiving season :)

This giveaway will be open for two weeks, until the 6th of December at 12:00pm PST. The lucky winner will be chosen at random (via random.org)! Good luck, everyone!

This giveaway is open to all readers, but please be aware that CSN Stores only ships to the US & Canada, and shipping rates may apply to those with Canadian addresses.

pancakeREVIEW: My Name Necklace

Before I begin this post, I just want to say that I have never been so excited to receive a package in the mail. A few weeks ago, I was asked by My Name Necklace if I wanted to receive a personalized necklace to review on my blog. You better believe that I jumped on the chance! I mean, when you have a name like Chandamheer, finding a personalized key chain, necklace, bracelet, you name it, is comparable to finding a needle in a haystack. As soon as I was told my that my necklace was on the way, I made sure to check my mailbox right when the mailman arrived, in hopes that my little package would find it's way into my hands. Lo and behold, one afternoon, I finally received it! And let me tell you, it was everything that I could have wanted!

Dress: Vintage; Sweater: Guess; Belt: Forever 21; Flats: Target; Necklace: gifted by My Name Necklace; Photos of me by: DJ Lan; All other Photos by: Chandamheer

My necklace is silver and 18-inches long, but you can customize yours to fit your own size and style.  It's comfortable to wear around my neck, and the best part is that it's personalized just for me! Even before I was asked if I wanted a necklace, I used to play around on My Name Necklace's website to view how my name would look around my neck. I highly encourage you to visit their website if you'd like to see how your Name Necklace will look on you, or to view their other fantastic products!! If a necklace isn't for you, they also have customizable rings, bracelets, and more (and they offer FREE SHIPPING!). I've already gotten many complements on my necklace, and I'm just so happy to be able to wear something as unique as this. Carrie Bradshaw, eat your heart out! 

PS: I hope you will all take a moment to visit My Name Necklace by clicking here! 

If you'd like to participate in a pancakeREVIEW, please visit the pancakePARTERNSHIPS section of my blog, or email me for details!

Changing Fashion: The Internet & Blogging Panel with Late Afternoon, On The Racks, and The Face Hunter

Liz of Late Afternoon, Laura of Shop It To Me and On The Racks, Yvan of the Face Hunter (photo from here)

So, as I mentioned in my last couple of posts, I had the pleasure of attending a fashion and blogging forum that was put on by UC Berkeley's BARE Magazine and Fashion and Student Trends club last week. I was surrounded by fellow Bay Area bloggers and budding fashionistas, as we all listened to Liz Cherkasova of Late Afternoon, Yvan Rodic of the Face Hunter, and Laura Ellner from Shop It To Me and On The Racks answer questions and speak about their online journeys. Some of the topics covered included: the future of blogging, the role of the blogger, and the how the internet has changed in general. Since many of you mentioned how much you wish you could have attended this enlightening event, I thought I would try to do my best to make you feel like you did. After a few photos, read the top ten things I took away from last Wednesday's event.

What's Up Buttercup?

Hello everyone! I just wanted to leave you with a quick little Friday evening post to update you on what you can expect to see on pancakeSTACKER in the weeks to come! I'll be taking a little break from my NYC photos, but don't worry, I'll be sprinkling them in sporadically. Along with my favorite Angel, Adriana Lima, here are some of the exciting posts that I have in store for you!

• Early next week, I'm going to feature my first sponsor and the beautiful item I was sent for my pancakeREVIEW series. If you need a hint: Think signature Carrie Bradshaw. 
• For all my loyal readers and amazing followers: another new sponsor is offering a great giveaway to their online store! Handbags, shoes, cute items for the home? What could be better? 
•  I'm thinking about launching a Facebook page. Does this sound like something you'd "like" to see?
• Read a recent interview I did for another amazing blogger! Once it's up, I'll tell you all about it!
• For all my Bay Area lovers, this one is for you: Giants win the World Series, SF Food Diaries, and some scenic SF photos? I'll show you why I love to call San Francisco Bay Area my hometown. 
• I have a some CAL street style to feature from a recent stop to Bare Magazine's Internet & Blogging forum. Did I snap your photo or leave you with my business card? If so, stop by soon and let me know what you think!
• Photos of Liz from Late Afternoon and Yvan Rodic from Face Hunter. See what they had to say about growing social media platforms and their advice for bloggers!
• And of course, more food and outfit posts to keep you coming back for seconds.

All photos taken from Elle Magazine, March 2009

I hope you are all as excited as I am to see all of the pancakePOSTS I've been waiting to serve. I promise they will be equally, if not more, filling and delicious as all the posts you've read up to now! Stay connected and follow me with google friend connect and bloglovin' for your latest pancakeSTACKER updates. Have a wonderful weekend!!

New York: A Food Diary (Part One)

Get your napkins ready, because this post is meant to make your mouths water. For me, one of the best parts about traveling besides the beautiful people, the phenomenal cultural experience, and the cheesy tourist spots that I always seem to fall for, is the get-in-my-belly-because-you-look-so-good FOOD. To prepare for my NYC trip, I Yelped like a madwoman, Googled "New York eats," and re-watched every episode of Sex and The City as I channeled my inner Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte, and took notes on every notable place the foursome dined in. Some will call this extravagant. I, on the other hand, call it being prepared. A serious eater takes serious steps. Below are some of the many places I had the pleasure (or displeasure) of tasting.


Serendipity 3  225 E 60th St.

pancakeLEFTOVERS: October

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see...

Hello everyone! It's been a busy October filled with the usual highs and lows, but now that it's November, it's time to keep pushing forward. I am steadily working towards my goals and making plans for some (hopefully) exciting life changes in the next upcoming months. I've decided to take back control and start embracing the moment. My first change? Natural November! What's that you might ask? I'm glad that you asked! Natural November is my personal quest to get back to basics and unearth the things that make me truly happy. One part of this is getting back into shape, and although this might sound silly, not straightening my naturally curly hair for all of November (Willow Smith's Whip My Hair, anyone?), so that I may appreciate my natural self. I don't want to get too profound or sound too preachy, but after reflecting back onto the past month(s), I realized just how much I'm looking forward to a change for the better... and that change has to start from within, both mentally and physically.

A Walk in the Park

While strolling through Central Park one day, after an unplanned two mile hike around the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir (yes, you read that right, I walked in a circle for like an HOUR because I somehow thought I was taking a short cut to the other side of the park, and yes, I am still shaking my head at myself for my "What was I thinking?" moment), I finally found my way to the sweet spots of the park. And as a side note: I have a whole other blog post dedicated to the beauty that is Central Park, so wait 'til you feast your eyes on that! There was so much energy and life all around juxtaposed against a setting of utter tranquility and peacefulness. I couldn't help but stop and take photos on the picturesque stairs, as a saxophone player performed a soft melody in the distance. The whole sight was just too good to be true that I honestly felt like I was on the set of a movie scene. But, to be fair, I felt like that the whole time I was in New York. 

Dress: Forever 21; Tights and Sunglasses: Nordstrom; Necklace: Top Shop; Boots: Nine West; Photos of me by: Alex L; All other photos by: Chandamheer.

Can you imagine how ridiculous I looked walking around the reservoir while everyone else was in running gear? Don't even get me started... Anyways, hope you all had a wonderful Halloween weekend and have a great start to your week! Don't forget to follow me with google friend connect and bloglovin'! (You can click on the link to follow with google or click on the button below to add me via bloglovin'.)